- E
- M
Dear world,
If you're reading this, we are alive. That is the most important thing to focus on right now. As I sit here typing this record, I see a look in my mothers eyes I have only seen once before when my father passed away. A look that seems almost empty. A look into the soul of someone who has had their entire life ripped away like dust in the wind. Ashes and dust we are not. We are resilent, warm, kind, and loving human beings who work hard not only for ourselves, but for those we know for a lifetime, or mere moments. Never forget those we meet in those times of need. I can assure you, they will likely not forget you.
We awoke Thursday morning at 6:40 a.m., I in my apartment on Buschmann, my sister Leslie, my mother Linda, and my 10 year old niece Alexis, whom of which has severe non-verbal autism, in their newly rented home on Hillcrest Drive in Paradise, California. As I got out of bed in the first apartment I've ever been able to afford on my own, my mother warned me of thick smoke overhead. After looking outside, we immediately knew this wasn't a typical smoke cloud often seen by the unfortunate and sad events of a nearby wildfire. It was dense, black, and absolutely hellacious.
As I spent the next 20 minutes loading my Subaru with some already prepared emergency supplies after a previous scare, and a couple of tubs of memories, my dog and I jumped in the car and headed over to get my sister. Mom had already left up to Magalia to get my niece from school, as a heavy ashfall began blanketing everything in sight. Mom calls me shortly after I picked up my sister, saying she had my niece in the car, but the bridge was blocked due to fire on both sides of Skyway between Magalia and Paradise. I stayed with her on the phone as she was being forced to turn around a mere mile from us. There was no way to get to them. My mother begged us to turn around and head to Chico, as they would find a way around eventually. Though with only a 1/4 tank of gas, she was very low on options. As my sister and I were making our way down Skyway near Wagstaff, we could see fire in the backyards of those living on the South side. It took us almost an hour to drive less than a mile. The fire was growing bigger, and it took every ounce of courage I had to not start crying or have a serious panic attack. Those who know me would be proud.
After two hours, we made it into downtown Paradise near Pearson. Once we reached the Skyway Hospital, fire was on both sides of us, raging. At that point, all lanes of the road were being used to send traffic down to Chico. My sister and I, holding hands and praying to God that we survive the trip, entered the fiery, smoke-filled tunnel you would think was straight out of an apocalyptic-themed movie. I couldn't see more than a few car-lengths ahead. The flames were only a few feet from each side, and my windows heated up almost instantly. So fast, that the side of my face felt like I was getting closer and closer to an oven. Having never seen hell, I have no doubt that it looks quite similar.
As we drove through the curves, dodging chunks of fire falling from the sky, and horrified drivers scrambling to get to safety, the 10 minute drive seemed like an eternity. After the last curve around lookout point, we could finally see blue skies. Only a few times in my life had I seen something so beautiful. Thank you Lord for protecting us through that.
At some point in all of the scrambling traffic, we lost contact with mom. PG&E had shut down all power in Paradise, supposedly parts of Magalia, and cell towers. After we made it out of town and arrived at Walmart to meet up with my other sister Christa and her family, we all began trying frantically to make contact with mom. All we knew was, she drove to a friend's parent's home on Juliard Ct. in Magalia and had made contact with them. Nothing more. As far as we knew, roads were still blocked leading into and out of Magalia, via Skyway.
Roughly 7 hours later, I received a text saying they all made it out via Skyway through Stirling CIty to Butte Meadows. She had to abandon my sister's beloved Subaru Forester to ride with them. Mom called minutes after I received the news, saying they were alright. Scared, but alive. Thank Jesus they were alive. Nearly 30 minutes later, we all met at Walmart in Chico for the biggest family hug we've had in a long time.
It was time to find shelter, and so here we are, in Palermo, out in the middle of nowhere. But, away from the fire. We may have lost our homes, decades of trinkets and tangible memories of family no longer with us, and two vehicles, but we are alive and together, despite tremendous odds. Some people were certainly not as fortunate. Our hearts and prayers go out to you folks who are displaced, or concerned for family and friends.
We will survive, we will rebuild, together, stronger.
If you're reading this, we are alive. That is the most important thing to focus on right now. As I sit here typing this record, I see a look in my mothers eyes I have only seen once before when my father passed away. A look that seems almost empty. A look into the soul of someone who has had their entire life ripped away like dust in the wind. Ashes and dust we are not. We are resilent, warm, kind, and loving human beings who work hard not only for ourselves, but for those we know for a lifetime, or mere moments. Never forget those we meet in those times of need. I can assure you, they will likely not forget you.
We awoke Thursday morning at 6:40 a.m., I in my apartment on Buschmann, my sister Leslie, my mother Linda, and my 10 year old niece Alexis, whom of which has severe non-verbal autism, in their newly rented home on Hillcrest Drive in Paradise, California. As I got out of bed in the first apartment I've ever been able to afford on my own, my mother warned me of thick smoke overhead. After looking outside, we immediately knew this wasn't a typical smoke cloud often seen by the unfortunate and sad events of a nearby wildfire. It was dense, black, and absolutely hellacious.
As I spent the next 20 minutes loading my Subaru with some already prepared emergency supplies after a previous scare, and a couple of tubs of memories, my dog and I jumped in the car and headed over to get my sister. Mom had already left up to Magalia to get my niece from school, as a heavy ashfall began blanketing everything in sight. Mom calls me shortly after I picked up my sister, saying she had my niece in the car, but the bridge was blocked due to fire on both sides of Skyway between Magalia and Paradise. I stayed with her on the phone as she was being forced to turn around a mere mile from us. There was no way to get to them. My mother begged us to turn around and head to Chico, as they would find a way around eventually. Though with only a 1/4 tank of gas, she was very low on options. As my sister and I were making our way down Skyway near Wagstaff, we could see fire in the backyards of those living on the South side. It took us almost an hour to drive less than a mile. The fire was growing bigger, and it took every ounce of courage I had to not start crying or have a serious panic attack. Those who know me would be proud.
After two hours, we made it into downtown Paradise near Pearson. Once we reached the Skyway Hospital, fire was on both sides of us, raging. At that point, all lanes of the road were being used to send traffic down to Chico. My sister and I, holding hands and praying to God that we survive the trip, entered the fiery, smoke-filled tunnel you would think was straight out of an apocalyptic-themed movie. I couldn't see more than a few car-lengths ahead. The flames were only a few feet from each side, and my windows heated up almost instantly. So fast, that the side of my face felt like I was getting closer and closer to an oven. Having never seen hell, I have no doubt that it looks quite similar.
As we drove through the curves, dodging chunks of fire falling from the sky, and horrified drivers scrambling to get to safety, the 10 minute drive seemed like an eternity. After the last curve around lookout point, we could finally see blue skies. Only a few times in my life had I seen something so beautiful. Thank you Lord for protecting us through that.
At some point in all of the scrambling traffic, we lost contact with mom. PG&E had shut down all power in Paradise, supposedly parts of Magalia, and cell towers. After we made it out of town and arrived at Walmart to meet up with my other sister Christa and her family, we all began trying frantically to make contact with mom. All we knew was, she drove to a friend's parent's home on Juliard Ct. in Magalia and had made contact with them. Nothing more. As far as we knew, roads were still blocked leading into and out of Magalia, via Skyway.
Roughly 7 hours later, I received a text saying they all made it out via Skyway through Stirling CIty to Butte Meadows. She had to abandon my sister's beloved Subaru Forester to ride with them. Mom called minutes after I received the news, saying they were alright. Scared, but alive. Thank Jesus they were alive. Nearly 30 minutes later, we all met at Walmart in Chico for the biggest family hug we've had in a long time.
It was time to find shelter, and so here we are, in Palermo, out in the middle of nowhere. But, away from the fire. We may have lost our homes, decades of trinkets and tangible memories of family no longer with us, and two vehicles, but we are alive and together, despite tremendous odds. Some people were certainly not as fortunate. Our hearts and prayers go out to you folks who are displaced, or concerned for family and friends.
We will survive, we will rebuild, together, stronger.